Spotlight - Christopher Woltering

Each week we will be picking members to spotlight to tell their Alzheimer's story and why they are running in this year's New York City marathon. Check in each day for new updates on who will be spotlighted and get to know your teammates...(each person is picked at random)

"The memories I have of my Nana always bring a smile to my face. I can still clearly see her sitting in the same area at the town pool with her friends on Summer weekends, only getting up for a few minutes each hour to cool off with a quick dip in the water. I can still hear and see her chatting on the phone in her chair in the dining room, cigarette next to her billowing smoke, as she chatted for hours with her friends and family, her and my Papa hosting card games at their house and hearing the voices and laughter make their way to my room, or my Nana heading off to attend a meeting for the various civic organizations she participated in several times a week.

Unfortunately, these memories and many others are really all I have left. Even though my Nana is still with us, Alzheimer's has robbed me and my family of the loving, strong and socially active and engaged woman we loved and created the challenging and emotionally draining task of providing daily, loving care to a woman who can no longer care for herself, a task which has been assumed by mother.

It's a tremendous and humbling privilege to have been selected to run in the 2014 NYC Marathon for the Athletes to End Alzheimer's. I'm running to honor my Nana, to honor the sacrifices of my mother, to run with such an amazing group of people who have been affected by Alzheimer's in one way or another. I also wish to raise awareness of the devastating impact Alzheimer's has on individuals and on families."

Spotlight - Cindy Chin Levine

Each week we will be picking members to spotlight to tell their Alzheimer's story and why they are running in this year's New York City marathon. Check in each day for new updates on who will be spotlighted and get to know your teammates...(each person is picked at random)

When I joined the 2012 Athlete’s to End Alzheimer’s team, the goal was to run my first marathon in memory of my grandma, Nin-nin (as we called her in Chinese for paternal grandmother) on her birthday, November 4^th.  Last year, I joined the team again because there was unfinished business, of course, the NYC Marathon but also to finally run in her memory on our home turf.

Nin-nin immigrated to NYC by herself when she was pregnant with my dad. The strength and courage it took for her to leave her family behind in China to build a “better life” in the United States are character traits I can only aspire to. I have endless memories growing up with Nin-nin and Ya-ya (my grandpa) – weekend trips they’d take into New Jersey to visit us with bags of goodies, vacations, holidays at their apartment in the Bronx, bowling competitions, Italian ice and ice cream trucks are just a handful of the memories that I will forever cherish. I was the only granddaughter on that side of the family and the oldest, which means I could do no wrong! Nin-nin and I always celebrated our birthdays together the first weekend of November every year. Even when Nin-nin was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and couldn’t remember who I was, we still celebrated our birthdays together. Nin-nin passed away in March 2011 and she forever be in our hearts.

Last year, I finally ran my first NYC Marathon in memory in Nin-nin with the full support of my entire family. It was a journey that took one year too long to finish, but one I will always remember and cherish. This year when I decided to join the team again, I will run in memory of Nin-nin but also in honor of my teammates and their loved ones. I am lucky for such an amazing team, to form lifelong friendships, and I would not be where I am today without their mentorship, support, and guidance. Joining the team two years ago was one of the best decisions I have ever made and I will always run to help end Alzheimer’s.

Spotlight - Jason Rosencranz

Each week we will be picking members to spotlight to tell their Alzheimer's story and why they are running in this year's New York City marathon. Check in each day for new updates on who will be spotlighted and get to know your teammates...(each person is picked at random)

Instead of writing the traditional "who i am" (live in Philadelphia, partnered, have a dog, will host anyone for the Philadelphia races and celebrate with a roof deck barbecue), i'm going to include the entry below.  It is what I wrote as my entry into my 25th college reunion update book (it just occurred at the end of May). 

The Harvard Red Book as it is known is a wonderful tradition - you can write anything you want.  About jobs, travels, kids, divorces, etc. It is only published and given to the members of the class, and the Harvard library system. You can't find any of it online.   I wrote mine about my mother who had died the year before and made a very large positive impression on my college friends.   It gives a little bit of insight into her, into me, and into life.

Ten years ago, at our 15th reunion, Gisela Velez, Lana Janes and I were reminiscing about a day spent our freshman year with my mother at Keezer’s shopping for my first tuxedo. Sitting on the Saturday night party at Leverett House, we laughed about how my mother 20 years prior had taken over the shop, providing gentle motherly advice to clueless freshmen trying on tuxedoes that were just all wrong. It was a great memory.

I thought my mother should know how everyone was remembering her so fondly, so I gave her a call on my cell phone. She had just left the hospital a few days before following cancer surgery, and was just starting to recover.

“Where are you?” I asked.

“I’m with your brother. He drove me over to see your Aunt in Medford and we are just driving back.”

“You mean you are nearby? Why don’t you drive by, I haven’t seen you yet.”

“I’m not dressed, I can’t do that.”

“Of course you can,” I replied. After a bit of cajoling and encouragement, she agreed and had Jamie drive her over to Leverett House.

They drove up and we chatted. She was still weak, her head still bandaged, wearing a raincoat over her housedress. I realized that many at the reunion, including Cigdem, Larry, DeeAnn, Billy, Gisela, Lana, Dan, Laurel, Martha and others, would be disappointed if they knew they had missed her. So I asked if she wanted to come in and see everyone for a few minutes. She resisted, said no, but I persisted. Eventually she said she’d come in for a few minutes.

We helped her from the car and holding her by the arm, we made our way to the door. And then for a moment, like every child has at some point or another, I worried what others would think of us. Why was she bandaged up? Why was she dressed the way she was? What was she doing here? I had self-doubt and questioned what the heck I was doing. What would people think?

And then it struck me. This was her reunion as much as it was mine. She was the reason I was even standing here at our reunion. As a single mother, she encouraged, saved, cajoled, listened and struggled her way to this day. Without her efforts, I would never know each of you.

So I left any doubt at the door, took her by the arm, and we walked in and met up with some friends. She spent about 15 minutes with me, was clearly happy and proud, and forgot about her own pain for that time. Multiple people came up to say hi, she was the center of attention, and deserved it. Mom told the same stories over and over again, an early sign that Alzheimer’s was just starting. And then she left, smiling, and I beamed even more with pride for her.

And suddenly I realized I was the only one in the class of 1989 that had in effect brought my mother as my date to our 15th college reunion.

Well, in the past 10 years a few things have changed. She recently passed away from a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. I have a wonder partner of 7 years, Bill Fennelly, who is the love of my life and will be at reunion with me. We now live in Philadelphia with our little sweet dog Molly. I still have the fondest memories of our groups of friends and our Harvard years. But this year, our big 25, I’m dedicated to my mom and all of your parents that made it possible for us to be together in the spring in Cambridge. Thank you muma!

Spotlight - Fred Battista

Each week we will be picking members to spotlight to tell their Alzheimer's story and why they are running in this year's New York City marathon. Check in each day for new updates on who will be spotlighted and get to know your teammates...(each person is picked at random)

I'm running in the TCS New York City Marathon to help reclaim the future for millions. By joining team Athletes to End Alzheimer's, I'm committed to raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer research, care and support.

This year marks my fifth year running for the Alzheimer’s Association. and I’d like to preclude my story with how encouraged all of you (returning and new) have made me in  that we are not alone and we will find a cure, and in the meantime that we are contributing  to providing those in need of the support services they so drastically need.

Just as important is the role we play as messengers to the cause on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.

As many of you are aware, my mom was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s close to seven years ago. I have shared my connection with team over the years therefore many of my returning team members are familiar with my connection to Alzheimer’s as noted below.

My Mom hosted Christmas Eve dinner every year since as long as I can recall. My families along with my two brothers gathered at my folk’s house each year. Including our kids and their spouses we total over 20! She does all the preparing. Being of Italian decent that includes a variety of pasta and seafood dishes. 2007 Christmas Eve preparation became increasingly difficult as she just couldn’t keep up with all that was required. She became very frustrated and depressed. That is when we took her for tests and she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She went from an incredibly smart and independent senior to one that has difficultly doing and recalling the simplest day to day activities.

She was an avid member of America Online until the age of 80 sending emails daily to her 9 grandchildren who were off at college. She would check the results of my NYRR’s races online and before I made it home would call me on my cell to congratulate me on my time!

It was especially difficult for my Dad who was 88 years old, since she literally did everything for him from “soup to nuts”: the check book, the savings accounts, the birthday gifts, retirement planning, cooking, housecleaning, you name it she did it. On May 9th, 2011 my Dad passed away. She was never able to fully grieve the passing of her life partner of 67 years (I suppose it is a matter of opinion if that was a positive or not) Although her condition worsened considerably after his passing

That’s where my story changed, from May ’11 – Feb ’12  my brother and I become her primary caretaker on weekends. As we at first were only able to find 24/5 (Mon AM– Sat AM) care for her . He stayed with her on Saturday’s, I on Sunday’s (We now have 24/7 care for her). Each week for 24 hours I saw how Alz affects a person.


Today, she continues to maintain a positive upbeat attitude which to me is simply amazing. She is no longer able to speak in full sentences and does not recognize any of her family members but still is quick with a smile and a laugh! That is why she is my inspiration is all I do! 

Spotlight - Hannah Ratzlaff

Each week we will be picking members to spotlight to tell their Alzheimer's story and why they are running in this year's New York City marathon. Check in each day for new updates on who will be spotlighted and get to know your teammates...(each person is picked at random)

My dad, Paul Ratzlaff, is a pretty amazing guy (I might be a little biased). He is one of the hardest working people I know, inspiring and helping countless people through his work as a minister for over 35 years. During his career he spoke out against racial injustice, worked hard for marriage equality, and would always take the side of the disenfranchised, working tirelessly to do what he could to make the world a better place.

As a father, he has always been supportive, pushing me to do my best, and incredibly loving, even putting up with my rebellious teenage phase. He has always been a huge sports fan and he made time to come to almost all of my field hockey and softball games, even if I never left the bench. As you can imagine, when I discovered running and racing- he was thrilled! To this day we talk over (read- I talk at him) my races and training plans, mile by mile, and he doesn't seem to mind.

In 2010, I noticed we weren't having the same epic father-daughter talks that we used to have, in fact he was talking very little and mixing up words when he did. The whole family decided something was up and we needed to get it checked out. After batteries of tests my father was diagnosed with Fronto-Temporal Dementia. He ended up retiring early, as it was getting harder and harder for him to express his thoughts. Over 4 years later, his once endless vocabulary is now quite limited and he can't really get around anymore.

Dementia is devastating. My mom is an amazing caretaker, and works incredibly hard, but I can see the toll it takes on her. My parents pictured their retirement as a time filled with travel, and learning, and grandkids. Unfortunately it has not turned out that way for them. For me, the thing that still feels the hardest is the helplessness of it. There is nothing I can do to stop the progress of the disease. I often feel hopeless and frustrated and hurt. 

Even with all the tough stuff, I have really bright times when I realize how lucky I am to still have my dad around. He is still living at home with my mom and their apartment is only 6 long blocks from my husband and me, and we go over there a lot to just hang out or watch the Mets game. I am so thankful that he was there to walk me down the aisle and meet my beautiful niece. I am thankful that he can still laugh at my stupid jokes, enjoy homecooked meals, and listen to me talk about each and every team training run.

This is my first time fundraising for a race. It feels like a really natural fit. Running helps when I feel sad, or angry, or that life is incredibly unfair. Its amazing that by raising money with a run I can actually DO one little something to help.